17.
It's a good age. You'll get to know yourself better. I think 17 for me was when I figured out the most fundamental aspects of life. There were sweet little life lessons. New BFFs. Pay attention. Have some fun.
You and me. We're the same. I love you.
My little baby sisters are all grown up. I feel like a proud parent of a sort. From the age of 12 - 15, my mom had three baby girls. I was quick to learn how difficult babies can be, especially when there's three of them. Occasionally, strangers mistook me for a teenage mother, which would mortify me.
Kim was the oldest and my live baby doll. One baby was almost easy, three babies was another story. My brother and I helped my mom with raising the girls. It really does take a village. At times I act more like a parent than a sister, which can be difficult for the girls (Kim especially) to take.
But hey, I got them dressed, kissed their knees, and wiped their tears. I splashed with them in the kiddie pool. I got sweet little notes from them when I was far away. Here's one from Kim in December of 1999. She was about to turn 9:
Now she's picking out colleges and getting her senior pictures taken. I can't believe they are now young women, all of them unique and incredibly intelligent. Kim is a force to be reckoned with. It's true what they say, they grow up so fast.
Happy 18th Birthday Kim. I love you like my own. 
I often fantasize about having a bedroom with only a bed and large open space. Since we live in a 1906 bungalow and space is limited, this is a bit of a pipe dream. 
Carrying on with this elusive notion, wouldn't an indoor sauna be nice?
